ROCKINGHAM — Ellerbe Grove Missionary Baptist Church stands as one of Richmond County’s historic Black churches, its roots tracing back to a community formed in the early 20th century in the rural Rockingham-Hamlet area. As the population grew, the need for a local cemetery became evident, and the church grounds were chosen as one of the primary sites. For generations, church cemeteries like Ellerbe Grove’s have served as sacred spaces where Black families connect across time, preserving not only the memories of loved ones but also vital records of cultural heritage and community contributions.
This year, cousins of the Covington and Crowder families reunited to honor the memory of their ancestors buried at Ellerbe Grove. Family members Peggy Covington, Hazel Ford, Vannie Crowder Kirby, Tommy LeGrand and Rosa Morman joined efforts to restore the gravesites. Together, they donated funds to purchase new tombstones and make needed repairs, ensuring that the names of their loved ones would not fade with time.
“Unfortunately, many black people do not know where their loved ones are buried because the gravestones are disappearing under vines, weeded areas, discarded debris or the sites have been abandoned and not protected and preserved,” said Peggy Covington, organizer of the project.
“Remember, it’s possible for the deceased to die twice. First, when you are pronounced dead and second, when you are forgotten and no one calls your name anymore,” said Covington.
Covington expressed deep gratitude for those who helped bring the project to life.
“Vannie Kirby and Sandra [Evans] at Custom Monument deserve a huge thank you for their tenacity in helping set this project at the cemetery,” Covington said.
Her mission carries a deeply personal meaning, as she purchased a gravestone for Doris Martin, a teenager Covington knew who faced a fatal death and did not have a stone of her own.
“I felt like she had been forgotten because most people didn’t know where her grave is. We were about the same age, so I bought her a stone too,” said Covington.
Covington hopes her initiative inspires others to care for their own family cemeteries and preserve their legacies.
“I lived in New York for years. When I come home, I would always visit the cemetery because so many of my relatives who were there had died at very young ages. I felt as they had taken with them a part of me that I will never get back,” Covington said. “For that reason, I tried to make the cemetery a nice place for my relatives. With the deterioration over the years, it became necessary for the cousins to get together and work on improving.”
She plans to continue the restoration project next year, ensuring that every loved one resting receives the care, respect and remembrance they deserve.